Just as numbers can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided, so too can functions. Combining functions in this way can often have surprising results, as the resultant function may not have a graph that appears similar to that of either input function's graph.

How can you tell, before completing the entire operation and graphing the result, whether the new function is likely to resemble one of the input functions? How do you describe combined functions without a graph?

Guidance

Therefore we can think of the function
f
(
x
) as the sum of two other functions:

The reciprocal function
g
(
x
) = 48/
x

The quadratic function
b
(
x
) = 2
x
2

When we add the functions together, we get a new type of graph that resembles both the graphs of
g
(
x
) and
b
(
x
):

The graph on the right is
f
(
x
). The right portion of
f
(
x
) resembles the parabola
b
(
x
), but is asymptotic to the
y
-axis. The left portion of
f
(
x
) resembles the left side of
g
(
x
), as both functions are asymptotic to the negative
y
-axis.

There are two points to be stressed here: first, that we can add functions together, and second, that the resulting sum may be a different kind of function from the original two.

The sum or difference of a function is more likely to resemble the original two functions if they are from the same family.

For example, if two functions from the linear function family are added together, the sum function is also a member of the linear family.

Because
f
(
x
) and the new function
y
=
x
3
+
x
2
+ 5 are both members of the cubic family, they have similar shapes.

To recap: When we add or subtract functions, the resulting sum or difference function may be in the same family as one or both of the original functions, or it may be a different type of function. The resultant function is more likely to be in the same family if both of the initial functions are in the same family as each other.

Notice that the graph of this function crosses its asymptote at (-1, 0), but then as x approaches
, the function values approach 0.

In general, if we multiply linear and polynomial functions (quadratics, cubics, and other such functions with higher exponents, such as
y
=
x
4
+ 3
x
2
+ 2), we will obtain other polynomial functions. If we divide these kinds of functions, we will obtain other polynomial functions, or rational functions.

Example C

The graphs of these two functions are not unlike the rational functions discussed in a later lesson.

Did you discover the trick for identifying when a resultant function graph is likely to resemble the input graphs, as mentioned at the beginning of the lesson?

The sum or difference of a function is more likely to resemble the original two functions if they are from the same family.

In other words, if you are adding or subtracting two quadratic equations, the result is likely to be quadratic, and have a similar graph.

Vocabulary

Function sum
: The result of the addition of two functions.

Function difference
: The result of the subtraction of two functions.

Asymptote
: A line on a graph toward which the output of a given function may approach, but never quite reach.

Guided Practice

Questions

1) Given
and
:

Find and graph (use technology):

2) Multiply the function by the scalar value

If
find

3) Given
and
:

Find and graph (use technology)

Solutions

1) Step 1: Recall that

Step 2: Substitute

Step 3: Combine like terms

So our answer is:

The graph of
looks like:

2) To multiply a function by a scalar, multiply each term of the function by the scalar:

Step 1: Substitute:

Step 2: Distribute:

So our answer is:

3) Step 1: Recall that

Step 2: Substitute:

Step 3: Distribute (FOIL):

Step 4: Combine like terms:

So our answer is:

The graph of
looks like this:

Practice

Given
and
find each of the following:

Simplify the following:

If
and
, find
.

If
and
, find

If
and
, find

If
and
, find
.

If
, find
.

If
and
, find
.

Evaluate and Graph:

if
and
, find
.

If
and
, find
.

If
and
, find
.

If
find
.

If
find
.

If
and
, find
.

If
and
, find

Try these more challenging problems.

Solve and graph.

If
,
, and
, find
.

If
,
, and
, find

If
and
, find
.

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Description

An overview of performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of functions.

Learning Objectives

Here you will learn how to perform the standard mathematical operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on functions. You will also explore the graphs that result from these operations.